Varey began his speedway career competing in open meetings in 1928 before signing for the Belle Vue Aces who had joined the newly formed Northern League in 1929.[4] Varey began succeeding quickly but had a reputation of being a hard, uncompromising rider which often led him to disciplinary problems with speedway authorities, confrontations and occasional scuffles with other riders and on several occasions needing police escorts from stadiums after on-track action upset the home fans at other tracks.
During the winter of 1929-1930, Varey rode in meetings in Argentina, where the local fans gave him the nickname of El Diablo Rojo (The Red Devil) which further established his tough image even further.[4]
Varey was very successful at Belle Vue. After being made captain in 1931 following the retirement of his friend and rival Arthur Franklyn, the team won the National League Championship four seasons in a row from 1933 to 1936 and were leading in the 1939 season until it was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II. The Aces also won the National Trophy in those same four seasons.[4]
Varey was selected to ride for England in the first ever Ashes Test Match series against Australia and was awarded the captaincy in the test held at Belle Vue.[5]
He continued to ride during the war and in 1944 won the British Wartime Championship.
Promoteredit
1937 cigarette card
At the end of 1945 he decided to retire from racing and began promoting speedway at the Owlerton Stadium in Sheffield, staying as promoter of the Sheffield Tigers[6] until 1950 before a spell promoting the Edinburgh Monarchs. Varey restarted speedway at Sheffield in 1960 in the Provincial League and remained until ill health forced him to relinquish control.
Varey returned to Belle Vue as team manager following the death of Dent Oliver the previous year but despite ongoing health problems he still helped with track preparation at Sheffield.[7]
Varey is listed as number 46 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[8]
Referencesedit
^Addison J. (1948). The People Speedway Guide. Odhams Press Limited
^ abBamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN0-7524-2402-5
^"ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
^ abcBamford, R. & Stallworthy, D. (2003) Speedway - The Pre War Years, Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN0-7524-2749-0
^Foster, P. (2005) History of the Speedway Ashes, The History Press Ltd. ISBN0-7524-3468-3
^"Too wet says skipper match off". Newcastle Journal. 6 August 1963. Retrieved 22 November 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Pavey,A. (2004) Speedway in the North-West, Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN0-7524-3192-7
^"Speedway Riders". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
January 01, 1970
frank, varey, march, 1908, eldwick, england, february, 1988, sheffield, england, former, international, speedway, rider, featured, speedway, world, championship, finals, 1937, 1938, also, featured, star, riders, championships, forerunner, world, championship, . Frank Varey 31 March 1908 in Eldwick England 1 8 February 1988 in Sheffield England was a former international speedway rider who featured in the Speedway World Championship finals in 1937 and 1938 2 He also featured in two Star Riders Championships the forerunner to the World Championship in 1932 and 1933 He earned 21 international caps for the England national speedway team 3 Frank VareyBorn 1908 03 31 31 March 1908Eldwick EnglandDied8 February 1988 aged 79 Sheffield EnglandNicknameEl Diablo Rojo The Red Devil NationalityBritish English Career history1930 1939Belle Vue AcesIndividual honours1944British Wartime ChampionTeam honours1933 1934 1935 1936National League Champion1930 1931Northern League Champion1933 1934 1935 1936National Trophy winner1931Northern KO Cup winner1934 1935 1936 1937A C U Cup winner1939British Speedway Cup winner Contents 1 Career summary 1 1 Rider 1 2 Promoter 2 World Final Appearances 3 Players cigarette cards 4 ReferencesCareer summary editRider edit Varey began his speedway career competing in open meetings in 1928 before signing for the Belle Vue Aces who had joined the newly formed Northern League in 1929 4 Varey began succeeding quickly but had a reputation of being a hard uncompromising rider which often led him to disciplinary problems with speedway authorities confrontations and occasional scuffles with other riders and on several occasions needing police escorts from stadiums after on track action upset the home fans at other tracks During the winter of 1929 1930 Varey rode in meetings in Argentina where the local fans gave him the nickname of El Diablo Rojo The Red Devil which further established his tough image even further 4 Varey was very successful at Belle Vue After being made captain in 1931 following the retirement of his friend and rival Arthur Franklyn the team won the National League Championship four seasons in a row from 1933 to 1936 and were leading in the 1939 season until it was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II The Aces also won the National Trophy in those same four seasons 4 Varey was selected to ride for England in the first ever Ashes Test Match series against Australia and was awarded the captaincy in the test held at Belle Vue 5 He continued to ride during the war and in 1944 won the British Wartime Championship Promoter edit nbsp 1937 cigarette card At the end of 1945 he decided to retire from racing and began promoting speedway at the Owlerton Stadium in Sheffield staying as promoter of the Sheffield Tigers 6 until 1950 before a spell promoting the Edinburgh Monarchs Varey restarted speedway at Sheffield in 1960 in the Provincial League and remained until ill health forced him to relinquish control Varey returned to Belle Vue as team manager following the death of Dent Oliver the previous year but despite ongoing health problems he still helped with track preparation at Sheffield 7 Varey died in February 1988 World Final Appearances edit1937 nbsp London Wembley Stadium 15th 3pts 8 semi final points 1938 nbsp London Wembley Stadium 17th 0pts 4 semi final points 2 Players cigarette cards editVarey is listed as number 46 of 50 in the 1930s Player s cigarette card collection 8 References edit Addison J 1948 The People Speedway Guide Odhams Press Limited a b Bamford R amp Shailes G 2002 A History of the World Speedway Championship Stroud Tempus Publishing ISBN 0 7524 2402 5 ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX 1929 2022 PDF British Speedway Retrieved 31 December 2023 a b c Bamford R amp Stallworthy D 2003 Speedway The Pre War Years Stroud Tempus Publishing ISBN 0 7524 2749 0 Foster P 2005 History of the Speedway Ashes The History Press Ltd ISBN 0 7524 3468 3 Too wet says skipper match off Newcastle Journal 6 August 1963 Retrieved 22 November 2023 via British Newspaper Archive Pavey A 2004 Speedway in the North West Tempus Publishing Ltd ISBN 0 7524 3192 7 Speedway Riders Speedway Museum Online Retrieved 14 October 2021 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Varey amp oldid 1192814365, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
